The Animas River Trail, a seven-mile stretch from the 1300 block of South Camino del Rio to 32nd Street on the northern edge of town, is a hub for Durango’s bicyclists and pedestrians.
As a recreational haven and the “spine” of Durango connecting the city’s parks, library, recreation center and downtown, safety on the trail is a hot topic for residents.
Earlier this month, a man was hospitalized after another man allegedly assaulted him with a rock in a racially charged dispute on the river trail in the 800 block of Camino del Rio.
Every time a river trail crime is reported, it raises public debate – whether on the street or over social media – about the walkway’s safety. But does perception correlate with police data?
The recent incident added to the Durango Police Department’s database of calls for service on Durango trail systems. In late March, The Durango Herald requested calls for the past two years to date. Trail reports provided by police between Jan. 1, 2014, and March 28, 2016, showed 4,861 incidents – but about 4,500 were extra patrols and security checks, and just more than 100 were reports of suspicious behavior.
There were 20 reports of trespass (city parks close at midnight), mainly near Schneider Park at Roosa Avenue, Iris Park in the 1200 block of Camino del Rio, and Santa Rita Park on South Camino del Rio. Iris and Schneider also were popular spots for drinking, with 13 calls for intoxication and 17 for open containers.
There was one report of obscene conduct in Iris Park.
The same areas attracted the most patrols and security checks.
The city has made efforts to ensure popular spots along the trail are safe for its patrons, such as adding security cameras around Durango Skate Park and lighting in the central business district last year, which is the busiest segment of the trail.
“We heard concerns about people hanging out in Schneider Park,” Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Metz said. “As far as people being on the trail that are uncomfortable to others, I think that we have a great police department. If there is a suspicious character, the best thing is to contact police.”
Metz said congestion is highest in the daytime, when weather is warmer and during the warmer months, the department has park rangers patrolling.
But public perception on the trail is mixed.
“I’ve been in Durango for years, and ride (my bike) on the trail every morning near Walmart, and I’ve never had a problem,” said John Black.
Others, like Jake Wells, who frequents the Schneider Park area, said late-night fights tend to break out there and are under the radar.
“There’s always smoking and drinking going on here, but as long as it’s not violent, I don’t mind,” Wells said from a park bench near Roosa Avenue. “There are fights here, usually with drunk people over something stupid. The cops come and break it up.”
Carlan Maynes, who walks the portion of the trail at Memorial Park daily with her dogs, said she feels safe. She said she takes the proper precautions and doesn’t walk at night.
“There are times when I’ve seen some of the homeless and felt apprehensive,” she said. “You do hear about attacks that people post about in Facebook groups.”
In March, Facebook group Durango Says What?, a local online comment forum, was abuzz with an allegation that several men had been prowling the river trail as a group, assaulting and robbing people.
There were no assaults reflected in the report provided by police. Durango Police Lt. Ray Shupe said in an email that police data does not suggest a higher rate of crime on the river trail compared to other parts of the city.
“The police department conducts frequent patrols of the river trail on foot and on bicycle,” Shupe wrote. “This is not the only area that we do that in. We also do foot and bike patrol in the Central Business District and in all of the parks throughout the city. These patrols have a direct effect on the reduction of crime throughout the city.”
Durango Police declined to discuss the topic further for this story.
But the topic inflames social media users. When asked about the trail’s safety, Danny Parsons posted he has friends who have experienced assault or attempted assault on the trail involving transients. Intoxicated homeless people on the trail, he opined, is a problem.
“It (the trail) definitely needs its own dedicated patrol even if voluntary,” Parsons wrote.
“During the day, the river trail is safe. At night, it is not safe AT ALL,” wrote Carli Walker.
In 2010, local Susan Lander organized a “Take Back the River Trail” walk to support her friend, who was assaulted on the trail in May of that year. Lander walks the trail daily and feels safe.
“It seems the times there are issues, they’re people that know each other, or it’s late at night and there are drugs and alcohol involved,” she said. “I think the town has changed a bit. You do hear about assaults. You do hear about 1 a.m. fights. I don’t know if it always happened, or if people don’t lodge complaints. But I refuse to start being afraid in Durango.”
Landers’ personal safety rules are like most: she avoids walking at night unless with friends.
jpace@durangoherald.com
